France, Aug. 26 -- Two separate groups of French soldiers - one in Nîmes in southern France and another in the United Arab Emirates - have been pictured displaying the same banner, with the images later shared in online groups glorifying the former British colony - which operated a white-minority ruled system similar to South African apartheid - investigative website Mediapart revealed.

One image posted on social media shows three soldiers holding a flag with three green and white stripes. At its centre is a coat of arms depicting a pick axe on a green background, flanked by antelopes and topped with a golden bird.

Another image shows four French soldiers in front of a tank holding the same banner.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces...